in Law, a giving livery of seisin or possession. There was anciently a great variety of ceremonies used upon investitures; as at first they were made by a certain form of words, and afterwards by such things as had the greatest resemblance to the thing to be transferred; thus, where lands were intended to pass, a turf, &c. was delivered by the grantor to the grantee. In the church, it was customary for princes to make investiture of ecclesiastical benefices, by delivering to the person they had chosen a pastoral staff and a ring.